The food safety unit in Kerala is awake after a long undisturbed sleep, and that too only to do their mandatory theatrics of concern after the horrifying story of Reshmi Raj, who reportedly died of food poisoning after eating from a hotel in Kottayam. The autopsy report has revealed infection to internal organs that resulted in Reshmi’s drastic fate. The 33-year-old deceased nurse went out at night at a local eatery never knowing that her craving could end up her life short.

Following the death that shocked the senses of the state, the concerned authorities hassled down to practice their usual drama of barging into hotels and eateries in all media glare to picture themselves as dutiful and concerned. It has now transpired to such a state that one should wait for any such drastic happenings to elicit a proper response from the authorities.

At present, the media is vociferous about the issue, but wait for this news to lose its sheen and nobody catches a trace of the food authorities who all are now portraying themselves as a concerned lot on television screens. On Tuesday alone, the food safety unit in the state programmed sudden inspections to not just a handful, but to almost 500 restaurants across the state. It is not that late to travel a little back to May 2021 when Devananda from Kasaragod succumbed to death after eating shawarma from a local restaurant. Devananda's death should have pushed the authorities to adopt strict action, but the present scenario suggests that nothing has changed and there is inefficiency in galore.

The face-saving raid and inspection after the Kottayam incident resulted in the closure of many small restaurants and eateries, but tales from the past suggest such moves will die a fast death. Corruption has seeped into every corner of the food and safety unit. Hotels without licenses are aplenty in the state with officials keeping a blind eye to help those illegal eateries to thrive unaffected.

A redressal in the system is the need of the hour. The lackadaisical standard of jumping into the scene only after a horrifying death should be curtailed. The health wing of the civic body should make amends to do routine checks to ensure hygiene and see whether proper working conditions are maintained in all restaurants and eateries.

Basic cleanliness and hygiene are a necessity for food aficionados to go for their cravings. A routine check from the health wing will help people identify the best place to spend their hard-earned money. If imbibed, this practice will give a warning nod for all those owners to fall under the prescribed instructions of the health officials.

But it is easier said than done, and it is an uphill task to work out. Food poisoning has turned out to be a regular in Kerala and even experts have raised alarms about how unhygienic food could aggravate serious diseases in people.

Whatever it be, It is a guaranteed right of the people to eat good food, and that to happen, the government just needs to work, dutifully.